The 13th season of the I-League is all set to start next month from November 30. In the meantime, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has not yet to confirm the broadcaster for the upcoming edition, but it will be announced soon.
I-League to Start From November 30
I-League is considered to be one of the top divison leagues for association football clubs in India, since it was found in the year 2007. It is also known as Hero I League because of the sponsorship deal with Hero Motor India.
The decision was taken on Friday at a meeting of the League Committee. Some of the prominent teams which are playing I-League are the defending champions Chennai City, Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan, East Bengal together with Real Kashmir FC.
There are total number of 11 teams which are going to compete in the league. Chennai City are the defending champions, as they have won the previous season.
All India Football Federation (AIFF)
TRAU F.C. joined as a promoted club from the I-League 2nd Division. In addition to that Shillong Lajong F.C. were relegated from the I-League previous season and is going to play in the second division in the 2019-20 season.
The meeting was also attended by AIFF senior vice-president Subrata Dutta, who is also the League Committee chairman. Along with him there were other prominent members in the meeting such as general secretary Kushal Das, CEO Sunando Dhar besides League committee members Souter Vaz, Anil Kumar as well as Chirag Tanna. AIFF technical director Isac Doru was also present at the meeting.
The AIFF media release stated, “I-League 2019-20 will commence on November 30, 2019, and the official broadcaster will be confirmed within a week,”
There are about maximum of three foreign players who can be replaced by a club for the duration of the complete season as well as a maximum of eight officials that are going to be allowed to sit on the bench during a match.
After the meeting heldd between AIFF secretariat and I-League clubs, the U-22 player quota rule is also going to be decided.
The committee on the other hand has also reviewed submissions that has been made by the state associations and after various deliberations, the committee has finally approved 10 clubs, that are going to undergo the Second Division League club licensing procedure.
The clubs are as follows: Bhawanipore FC, Mohammedan SC, Lonestar Kashmir FC, ARA FC, NGR Football Club Jammu, Kickstart FC, Karnataka, FC Bengaluru United, FC Kerala, Garhwal FC, AU Rajasthan FC.
Reserve teams of Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, Hyderabad FC, Punjab FC together with a developmental team of AIFF is also going to take part in the Second Division League 2019-20.
